John DeCourcy

With St. Patrick’s Day coming up, I thought it would be a great time to write about The “Pauper” (Mark Twain’s “The Prince and the Pauper”), and possibly “1st White Knight in Shining Armor”, John De Courcy! (He also promoted St. Patrick!)

“First White Knight in shining armor, strength, valor, religious, the prince and the pauper…promoter of St. Patrick” 

So what’s the correlation between the King and DeCourcy? Just this… Their families go back to the Cotentin Peninsula, in Normandy during the time of William “the Conquerer”. Progenitor of the De Courcy family, Baldric, was believed to have been sent from Germany to Courcy, in approximately 1000. (This is only speculation, he may have had the nickname “Teutonicus” – the German, because of his ancestors…) He also potentially arrived to help out the current Duke of Normandy, Richard II. He obtained the Courcy land for doing homage to Duke Richard II of Normandy. Baldric’s  grandson, Richard De Courcy, had the Chateau de Courcy when Robert Curthose, (Father of/ son of William “The Conqueror”) besieged it in 1091. 

Baldric had several sons. One son, Robert,  had grown up with William “The Conqueror” of Falaise. Courcy and Falaise were only a few miles away from each other. When it came time for the Battle of Hastings, Richard, (son of Robert) was a general and major leader for William. (It is believed that there was land specifically reserved for him as the blank in the Doomesday Book.)

This Richard was the father of William who was nicknamed “Sir Jordan” (possibly by William “The Conqueror” himself?- Or King Henry I) during the crusade. 

Genealogical Line of John DeCourcy from Baldric

1. Baldric “Teutonicus” de Courcy Lord of Bacqueville en Caux (969/77-1035/66) m. Alix de Brionne (978-1045) (She’s not proven to be Robert’s mother… but likely is.)
2. Baron Robert I DeCourcy (1005/6-1058+) m.1031  Hebria de Bernieres (1010-?)
3. Baron Richard I DeCourcy (1040-1098) m. Wandelmode (1045-?) (Was a General/ Commander in Battle of Hastings 1066 for William “The Conqueror.” He was given Stoke Courcy/ Stogursy in Somerset, England) He moved the family to England.
4. Baron William I “Sir Jordan” DeCourcy of Stogursey (1072-1114) m. Emma de Falaise (1076-1129) He was made a Royal Dapifer (Steward) by Henry I in approximately 1100.
5. Jordan De Courcy (2nd son of William, “Sir Jordan”) Progenitor of the Jordain’s/ Jordans. 
6. John De Courcy King/ Earl of Ulster (before 1160-1210/19) m. 1180/82 Affreca Godredsdottier.  

Genealogical line of the Dukes of Normandy

1. Rollo Viking King- 1st Duke of Normandy (860-932)
2. William “LongSword” 2nd Duke of Normandy (893-942)
3. Richard I “The Fearless” (932-996) 3rd Duke of Normandy
4. Richard II (963-1026) 4th Duke of Normandy
5. Robert I Duke of Normandy (1000-1035) 5th Duke of Normandy
6. William “The Conqueror”  6th Duke of Normandy (1024-1087)

Genealogical line from William “The Conqueror” to King Henry II

1. William “The Conqueror” (1028-1087)  m. Matilda “Maud” of Flanders (1031-1083)
2. King Henry I (1068-1135) m. Princess Edith of Scotland (1080-1118)
3. Matilda (1102-1167) m. Geoffrey V “Plantagenet” of Anjou (1113-1151)
4. King Henry II (1133-1189) R. 1154-1189  m. Eleanor of Aquitaine (1122-1204)
5. Richard “The Lionhart” R. 1189-1199 & King John “Lackland” (1166-1216) R. 1199-1216

John was born in Stoke Courcy (Stogursey), Somersetshire, England sometime before 1160 during the reign of King Henry II. Not much is known about his childhood, but I would venture to say that you can bet he grew up with the future King Richard III and John I of England! As previously mentioned and shown above, Baldric “Teutonicus” de Courcy was progenitor of the De Courcy line. He was affiliated with Normandy’s 4th Duke, Richard II. Going down 3 generations from each of them, you get the King of England (Henry I), making the DeCourcy’s a royal dapifer/steward for himself! Going down another 2-3 generations, you get to the generation of King Richard, King John I, and John De Courcy! How impressive is that?! I’ll get more into how this amazing man actually lived through 3 kings of England during his lifespan, as I attempt to show his life in events as they happened, in contrast to who his reigning King was at the time of the event(s). 

The first we know of John DeCourcy is that he was a knight under King Henry II, serving him in his English wars and Gascoigne. It is thought or believed that King Henry II knew of John’s  reputation as being a knight under him, and personally requested John De Courcy to go to Ireland in 1177 to help at the request of one of the minor, feuding Kings.  He was known to be a man of great strength, gigantic stature (very tall), and indomitable courage. “John was a tall, blond man with long bony limbs, a big man, physically very strong, and of exceptional courage. From his youth he had shown himself to be a valiant man of war, always first into action, always grasping the nettle, danger. In battle he fought like a reckless common soldier, rather than a careful commander, conscious of his value to his own troops. Yet in ordinary life he was a moderate and sober minded man, who showed that true reverence which is owed to Christ and his church. He was utterly dedicated to the worship of his God and ready always to give to God the glory, when he had achieved any success.” (Carrying on family tradition of his forefathers???) 

John De Courcy in Ireland

Merlin had prophesied that “a knight riding on a white horse, and bearing birds on his shield, should be of the first of the English who, with force of arms, would enter and conquer Ulster.” John De Courcy was the man to fulfill this prophecy, thus making him possibly the first “white knight in shining armor.”

Knowing of this prophecy, John grabbed a shield and painted 3 birds on it. He was stationed in Dublin. He decided to invade northern Ireland where the Irish clans ruled. In Jan of 1177, he gathered up 22 knights and 300 soldiers on foot. Marching north at a rate of 30 miles per day, he took the current Downpatrick by surprise. After two fierce battles in Feb. and June, John De Courcy was able to defeat the local chieftain, Rory MacDunleavy. 

After those battles, John then continued north to the Dal nARaide area, killing their Chieftan. He then attacked the powerful King, Cu Mide Ua Floinn in County Antrim. He reached the north coast at Coleraine. Returning back from there, he reached Rock of Fergus, where he built Carrickfergus Castle. He also built Dundrum Castle. 

In Dun da Lethglas (Downpatrick), it is thought that John had built a castle called Castle Dorras. He promoted St. Patrick (The patron Saint of Ireland), and left Downpatrick to be a religious center. He then considered himself King and started minting his own coins. 

In 1180/82 John married the daughter of the Norse King of Mann, Afrecca Godredsdottier. It is unknown if John and Afrecca had any issue (kids.) We will make an educated guess, to say they did, as will be mentioned later. 

In 1185 when John, feudal lord of Ireland, (The later King John I, Lackland) was roughly 18, he visited Ireland for the first time. Later that year, his father, King Henry II, made John De Courcy Justicular of Ireland. 

In 1189 King Henry’s son, Richard, became King. He had power struggles with his mean and vindictive, brother, Prince John. John De Courcy seems to have backed King Richard on the power struggle. On top of that, Prince John was insecure, did not trust his barons, and probably felt intimidated by John De Courcy’s success in Ireland, and even more upset that he was minting coins not only under St. Patrick in Downpatrick, but also under his own name! 

When King Richard passed away in 1199, Prince John became King John I “Lackland” of England. Upon becoming King, he dismissed John De Courcy from office. To do this, he sent John De Courcy’s rival, Hugh de Lacy to carry out the deed of capturing John De Courcy.  

John De Courcy’s Capture

“Sir Hugh de Lacy was commanded to do what he might to apprehend and take Sir John de Courcy.” Not knowing or having any inkling on how to do that, De Lacy and his men went behind John’s back and asked John De Courcy’s men how to do it. They said it was “not possible to take him, (since he lived ever in his armour), unless it were a Good Friday” and they told that “his custom was that on that day he would wear no shield, harness nor weapon, but would be in the church, kneeling at his prayers, after he had gone about the church five times bare-footed.”

Story has it that De Lacy’s men jumped John De Courcy at the Church in Downpatrick. Before jumping him himself, they had murdered 2 of John’s nephews. He had no defense of weapons or armor, so he had to grab a “cross pole” to defend himself with. In the process, the slew 13 of De Lacy’s men, before the remaining gang captured him and took him to King John. Refusing to submit to King John, he then strippped John De Courcy of all his titles and land, locked him up in the Tower of Lodon, and gave Hugh De Lacy all of his lands and castles. And another big slap in the face with naming him “Earl of Ulster.” 

Battle of Crowns Championship 

While John De Courcy was locked up, a feud over possession of  land had broken out between King Philip Augustus of France, and King John I. To settle the dispute, King Philip had suggested that it be settled by a one on one combat of Champions. He would pick someone to represent himself in a fight, and King John could likewise also pick his own person to represent him in the fight… (Is that where gladiators came from? Not just from jousting?) King John accepted the challenge. 

King John had no idea who to ask to represent him. He surely did not want to ask the disgraceful, John De Courcy that he had locked up in the Tower. However, he finally had to bear that fact the people of England were right in electing him as the man for the job. So he sucked it up, and lowered himself to ask John de Courcy to represent himself in the man to man combat of Crowns.

It is said that John De Courcy told King John that after stripping him of his dignity, titles, and land, and telling King John how ungrateful he was , that he wouldn’t be disgraced like that and do him a favor, and  wouldn’t do it. He would rather stay locked up in prison at the Tower of London. One day a Benevolent man overheard the situation, and went to talk to John De Courcy. He told John he understood completely where he was coming from and had every right to feel the way he did. He also told him the people of England are counting on him and need him. To do it for the people of England, not for King John. With that, John De Courcy accepted the challenge. 

Legend has it (and they all vary slightly, but this is the version I chose), that when John De Courcy entered the battlefield along with King Philip’s Champion (who I saw once who he was by name, but can no longer find), the trumpets sounded, France’s champion took one look at John De Courcy, and noticing his superior stature, dropped his shield, took off his helmet and armor and fled on his horse to Spain. Thus, John De Courcy was the winner or champion without having to lift a finger. 

King Philip was told of John’s immense strength, and had asked John to demonstrate it for him. John accepted. King Philip took his former champion’s helmet and shield and laid them on a tree stump. With one mighty cleft of one hand, John De Courcy split the shield and armor in half. He was so strong, that no one present could remove his sword from the stump, even using both hands. He was the only one strong enough to remove it. 

King John was so thrilled at the performance and satisfied, that he approached John de Courcy and told him he will restore all of his lands and titles to him, and would grant anything in his power that John De Courcy wanted. John told him that he had enough titles and land, however, he desired that he and his family/descendants/successors never have to pay respects (removing hat or bowing down to) to him or any future sovreigns/kings/monarchs of England ever again. King John gladly granted John De Courcy what is now known as the special De Courcy Privilege. 

John De Courcy returned to Ireland with King John I to displace Hugh De Lacy from John De Courcy’s former Castle. However, John had built the castle so strong that even he couldn’t overthrow it. Hugh De Lacy (who had fallen out of favor with King John)  refused to give it up. 

John is thought to have passed away sometime in 1219, 3 years after King John passed away. His armor is said to still be in the Tower of London, and he is believed to be buried at Westminster Abbey. 

Legacy

He left behind the legacy of being a valiant warrior of great strength, a God-fearing man, the founder of Downpatrick, and promoter of the fame and honor of St. Patrick, and ful-filler of prophecies, (English man conquering Ulster with 3 birds on a white shield, and the prophecy of 3 saints being buried all in one place), among other things!

It has been said that John De Courcy had 2 known sons. (Which has been disputed.) One being Lord John of Ratheny, who was killed by the De Lacy’s, and the other being Miles, the Baron of Kinsale. Legacy or Legand says that upon the death of John De Courcy, Miles was offered the Kingship of Ireland, but he declined it. Upon refusing the crown of Ireland, he was then offered any land that he wished to have in Ireland. He chose Kinsale. Thus from his descendants come the Barons of Kinsale. 

Speaking of which, I have looked up the DNA stats that I could find on the De Courcy’s. One study shows that the De Courcy’s of Ireland that have been tested belong to the I1a haplogroup… This is the Haplogroup of the Jarls of Orkney, King Robert I “The Bruce”, potentially the Norman Dynasty (descendants of Rollo), and appear to be closely related to Edmund Rice of Sudbury/Marlboro, MA….

Now there’s obviously a few reasons for mentioning this, and I’m sure it’s pretty self explanatory. 1. They all obviously have a common male ancestor. I1a is thought to have originated around 2600 BC. That’s too far back for me to try to trace right now for Scotland, Scandinavia, Denmark, Normandy, and England….

2. But, tracing back King Robert I the bruce, who had ancestors in Normandy to England and then onto England and Scotland, and who appears to be from the same lineage as the Earls of Orkney, and possibly even the same lineage as Rollo, through someone around the 600’s-700’s as a male common ancestor, just the De Courcy’s have the same pattern… Normandy to England and one side of the family staying in England and another son going to Scotland… Has me thinking these all might have been related though the male line. 

3. The 3rd reason I mention this, is because upon looking up the De Courcy DNA, and seeing that the one’s from Ireland which is probably the Baron’s of Kinsale line, are a very close match to someone else I have been delving into some genetics on who is also a mystery of his previous lineage… and that is Edmund Rice… The closeness in the genetic line of the De Courcy’s of Ireland and the presumed maker values for Edmund are surprisingly very close, which gives the impression that Edmund Rice and the De Courcy’s of Ireland may have been very closely related within even maybe 6 generations! Which was an amazing discovery for me!

Here’s to John De Courcy and all of his feats that he has accomplished! I hope someday we can have a better understanding of where he exactly came from and understand his background of ancestors that led to him! 

Food for Thought – Royalty, Robin Hood, & John De Courcy

During the lifespan of John De Courcy, not only did he live during the time of King Richard (whom he most likely supported and sided with), and King John, but he also lived during the time of Robin Hood! As was mentioned earlier, Baldric De Courcy lived on the Cotentin Peninsula of Normandy. His origins are not specifically known. I had made the comment that him being referred to as Baldric The German might be because of his ancestry. This is because, if he was of Amal or gothic descent, he could have had ancestors that were apart of Saxony in Germany, OR he could have been of Danish Decent who were also known as “German!”. Another interesting to note, is that he is NOT the only of the family to be called “The German”! He had a descendant, Jordan “Teutonicus” in the 1100’s. This was a close relative of John De Courcy… (obviously from the Jordan De Courcy line listed above.) John also had a brother named Jordan. He was murdered by one of his Irish members of his household when he was 36. So of course, John got revenge on him for killing his brother…

Now to add a little bit more depth into the possible Danish/ Saxony ancestry of the De Courcy line… It’s unknown where Baldric came from or who exactly his ancestors were. Let’s make a hypothesis that he was of Danish Decent. He arrived sometime 1000 in the Cotentin Peninsula. Now lets look into history for a bit. It is said that Rollo’s son, 2nd Duke of Normandy, William “LongSword” had invited a Danish Colony into Normandy. Their King, Harald worked with William in settling the colony, and when he left, many of his followers remained behind in the Cotentin! (The Vears were amongst them.) Although Baldric is believed to have been born after William Longsword passed away, who’s to say that his parents weren’t ones that came from Denmark and settled there? Also, please keep in mind that this line of Dukes of Normandy, came from the Carolingian Dynasty through Rollo’s wife, Poppa. And also, this line did marry into the Danish lineage.

As many of you may know by now, if you have read any of my previous posts, I tie things together….The best I can! So here we go! I titled this section Royalty, Robin Hood, and John De Courcy. The Royalty is already explained. That’s our Kings of England, Henry II, Richard “The Lionhart”, and John I, “Lackland.” John De Courcy is obvious, as this was about him. And as mentioned Robin Hood was alive during this time, and Vears stayed on the Cotentin Peninsula…. So now where do all these fit together? The Simple Answer… It’s probably obvious now; the De Courcy’s were in the center of the Cotenin Peninsula. The Norman Dynasty was a mere 3 miles away from them, and the Vear’s (The house of TRUTH), were ALSO in the Cotenin Peninsula! So what does that have to do with Robin Hood? Well, again we come to another uncertain ancestoral line, and uncertainty of who Robin Hood actually was… He may have been born around 1160 and died late in 1247…

The Duke’s of Normandy became of the Kings of England under William the Conqueror with the decisive Battle of Hastings in 1066. The De Courcy’s became Royal Dapifer’s under William’s son, Henry through Richard De Courcy’s son, William. The De Vere’s became the Chamberlains of England through Aubrey De Vere, who also served under William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings. The De Vere line descends into the Earls of Oxford in England! This is the family that Robin Hood may have come from. His mother may have been, Roisia De Vere. While I won’t delve into Robin Hood and his lineage right now (I will save that another post); I will end this on one more note though.

It is thought that King Richard may have SIDED WITH and helped Robin Hood during his reign! So here you have 3 very noble families. All tied to William the Conqueror and greatness in England! And you have King Richard with the backing of 2 very well known men: John De Courcy in Ireland, and Robin Hood in England! All 3 of these guys were also anticipated to be born around the same time as well… As as we have seen, that although John De Courcy and Robin Hood were allies of King Richard, King John was BOTH of their bitter enemies!